Game apparatus comprising a device for distinguishing between differently shaped cards



3 Sheets-Sheet l M; GLASS ET'AL GAME APPARATUS COMPRISING A DEVICE FOR DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN DIFFERENTLY SHAPED. CARDS 1965 Filed March 8,

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FIG. 6

g- 3, 1967 M. GLASS ETAL 3 GAME APPARATUS COMPRISING A DEVICE FOR DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN DIFFERENTLY SHAPED CARDS Filed March a, 1965 a Sheets-Sheet a 78 .1 /6..C3 MENTOR-5 United States Patent 3,334,903 GAME APPARATUS COMPRISING A DEVICE FOR DISTINGUISHING B E T W E E N DIFFERENTLY SHAPED CARDS Marvin I. Glass and Henry Stan, Chicago, and Gunars Licitis, Lombard, Ill., assignors to Marvin Glass & Associates, Chicago, 11]., a partnership Filed Mar. 8, 1965, Ser. No. 437,750 Claims. (Cl. 273-134) The present invention relates to game apparatus, and is particularly directed to a game which is played with cards, the cards representing commodities and investments which are bought and traded as the game progresses. The game also involves a game board having spaces on which the cards are placed in accordance with the rules of the game, and markers which are placed on the board and moved along the spaces in accordance with the indications of a random indicating device. Play money is issued to the participants, and they may buy and swap commodities, within the rules of the game, as they see fit. Only part of the commodities represented on the cards are genuine, however, and an instrument or game apparatus is provided which will test the cards and automatically indicate whether the item represented by the card is genuine or not.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a game including cards illustrating articles, play money with which the articles can be bought, a game board and markers, a random selecting device in the form of a spinner, and an indicating device which will promptly show whether or not the article or value represented by any card is genuine. Further objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the game board;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the spinner;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of one of the markers;

FIGURE 4 is a representation of a piece of play money;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of one of the cards;

FIGURE 6 is a front elevation of the indicating device;

FIGURE 7 is a top view of the same;

FIGURE 8 is a vertical sectional view of the device taken substantially on the line 88 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a vertical sectional view similar to FIG- URE 8, of a fragment of the device, but taken on the line 99 of FIGURE 7, showing the parts in a different position; and

FIGURE 10 is a similar view showing the parts in still another position.

The illustrated game comprises basically a fiat game board 12, FIGURE 1, a plurality of playing cards as 14, FIGURE 5, markers 16, FIGURE 3, and a random selecting device or spinner 18, FIGURE 2. Cards 14 represent objects of value, the one illustrated connoting on one side only an antique chair 20 having a presumed value of $200. Cards 14 are provided with irregular lower edges 22 for a purpose to appear and which will be fully described. Spinner 18 comprises a dial 24 carrying a pivot 26 on which a pointer 28 is supported for free rotating movement. Dial 24 is divided into six divisions or segments, one of which, 30, carries the word Swap, While the others are numbered from one to five. Markers 16 are in the shape of discs or wafers, and may be of any suitable material provided only that they must be different in appearance or of different colors so that an individual marker can be assigned to and identified with each player. As stated, each player is assigned a quantity of play money 32, and as the cards are accumulated and bought and swapped by the players, they are required to 3,334,903 Patented Aug. 8, 1967 be tested to see whether the articles represented are genuine (antiques, for example) or fakes. For this purpose an indicating device or magic appraiser, as it is called, is used as shown in FIGURE 6.

In this device, a base portion 34 is provided, made of any suitable material, preferably one of the readily molded plastic compositions, and having an upstanding front wall 36 and side walls 38 and 40, front wall 36 being preferably of opaque material, but having an upper transparent portion 36a. If desired, side walls 38 and 40 may also have transparent upper portions. A top wall 42 partially closes the top, but is of less width than side walls 38 and 40 so as to define an opening 44 into which a card can be inserted for appraisal.

Although the details of the appraiser may vary substantially within the contemplation of the invention, in the present embodiment a piece of sheet metal forms a back wall 46, and has flanges 48 and 50 fixed in any suitable manner to side walls 38 and 40, respectively, wall 46 extending upwardly to a height substantially equivalent to that of walls 38 and 40. Between wall 46 and above mentioned wall 36 is disposed a channel or dial section comprising a web portion 52 and side flanges 54 and 56, the latter having respectively out-turned flanges 58 and 60, engaged with or fixed to wall 46 within flanges 48 and 50.'Flanges 54 and 56 are disposed substantially vertically in the working position of the device, so that back wall 46 and channel 52 together make an upwardly directed slotted receptacle or passageway registering with opening 44. Web portion 52 is visible through transparent portion 36a of front wall 36 and constitutes the indicator dial.

A card 14 inserted into opening 44, and pressed downwardly, will encounter a bottom portion of the passageway comprised of lugs or cars 62 and 64 which extend transversely across the slot into proximity with back wall 46. Lugs 62 and 64 are formed on a rocker element 66 supported in front of web 52, the lugs bending back and extending through slots 68 and 70 in web 52. Rocker 66 is preferably fixed on a fulcrum pin 72 journaled in a suitable opening in web 52 and also in a bridge element 74 FIGURE 7, spaced forwardly from web 52 by flanges 76 and 78 so as to provide a bearing for pin 72 spaced forwardly from web 72.

Lugs 62 and 64 are not symmetrically disposed about pin 72, in the present instance lug 64 being spaced from pin 72 a slightly greater distance than is lug 62, for a purpose to appear.

Rocker 66 has an upstanding arm 80 above pin 72 and having spaced forwardly projecting ears 82 and 84 between which is disposed a cam portion 86 of a pointer finger 88 fulcrumed on a pin 90 spaced above cam portion 86, and

supported in web 52 and bridge 74. It will now be apparent that rocking of rocker 66 in one direction will displace cam portion 86 and cause rocking of finger 88 in the opposite direction, and the spacing of cam portion 86 beneath pin 90 in proportion to the spacing of ears 82 and 84 above pin 72 is such that very little movement of rocker 66 will cause substantially greater movement of finger 88. A relatively flexible leaf spring 92 is anchored in any suitable manner as by embedding in base portion 34, and has its upper extremity interposed between cam portion 86 and ear 82, spring 92 being biased to tend to maintain arm and finger 88 substantially in line in a vertical position.

Card 14, as stated, has an irregular bottom edge 22, in the present instance characterized by a series of notches and lugs which are symmetrically spaced, the spacing being such that one of the lugs 94 (FIGURE 9) will engage lug 62 when card 14 is placed in opening 44, while one of the notches 96 will register with lug 64. When the card is pressed against the lugs, lug 62 will be depressed,

while lug 64 will be allowed to rise so that rocker 66 will be tilted slightly in a counterclockwise direction. This movement will fiex spring 92 and shift cam 86 to the left, causing clockwise swinging of finger 88. Web 52 has legends Fake and Genuine arranged to the left and right, respectively, of the mid-position of finger 88, so that in the case of card 14, finger 88 will indicate that the chair 20 is genuine and worth the $200.

Card 14- may have a counterpart or twin 98 (FIGURE which also has a series of notches and lugs on its lower edge. On card 98, however, the spacing is slightly closer, so that a notch 100 will register with lug 62, while the edge of the card beyond the notches will encounter lug 64. When the card is pressed down, rocker 66 will be tilted in a clockwise direction by reason of pressure of the card on lug 64, and finger 88 will swing to the left and indicate that the chair is a fake. The difference in spacing of the notches on the two cards is readily made so slight as to be scarcely perceptible, so that it is not feasible to judge by observation of the notches whether or not the article is genuine. Furthermore it is contemplated that the edges of the cards may be made with many non-functional irregularities, to make it virtually impossible to judge the quality of the article by inspection of the card.

Preferably, flanges 54 and 56 are spaced apart only slightly more than the width of the cards 14 and 98, so that any card inserted in opening 44 will be guided in its downward movement with considerable accuracy. In this manner it is possible to make certain that the notches and lugs on the cards will register with the lugs 62 and 64 as intended, and the appraiser will avoid making mistakes.

Variations are contemplated in the manner of playing the game, but it is intended that the players will choose their markers and place them in the center of the board. They will then determine the order of play by using the spinner, the highest number going first. The lowest numher will designate the dealer. The play money is distributed so that, for example, each player gets two $1000 bills, two $500 bills and twenty $100 bills, any surplus being held in the bank and not used except to make change. The dealer shuffles the cards and deals six cards to each player. The next four cards he places face down on spaces 102, 104, 106 and 108, which are arranged about the starting area 110, and adjacent to paths 112, 114, 116 and 118, leading away from area 110 to a path 119 extending entirely around the center portion of the board, and along which paths the markers will be moved in accordance with the indications of spinner 18, and the rules of the game. One card is placed face up on each of the spaces 120 around the edges of the board outside of path 119, any cards left over being used to start a discard pile into which other cards will be placed from time to time. The articles represented by these cards are therefore readily visible to all the players, who may use their judgment as to which are most desirable.

The players now spin the pointer 28 and move their markers, in the order previously determined, the number of spaces designated by the spinner, and each player may choose to take any one of the four paths leading out of the starting area, usually the one leading him nearest to the object or objects which he deems most desirable. On the way to the outer part of the board the markers will pass the cards that are face down. If a players move takes him past such a card, he has first claim to it and may buy it sight unseen for the price marked between his path and the card. However, he is not required to do this if he does not wish to.

When a players marker has traversed the path he has chosen, and is in path 119 next to the spaces 120, he may buy or swap only cards next to which his marker stops, although again he may pass these cards if he wishes. Opposite each space 120 are two spaces in path 119, except for two end spaces at each corner, where there is room for only one space in path 119 and the spaces are marked, starting at one corner, respectively, $200, SWAP, $300, SWAP, $1000 $500, SWAP, $400, SWAP, and $100. Thus except at the corners, each card which is face up on one of the spaces 120 has next it a price and the word swap. If a players marker stops on one of the price spaces, he may buy the adjacent card for the price on the space, regardless of the price indicated on the card. If this marker stops on Swap, he may exchange the adjacent card for any other card which he holds in his hand.

Spaces in path 119 opposite spaces 120 where the card has been removed are not counted as the markers are moved along.

Spinner pointer 28 indicates the number of spaces along the several paths that a players marker may move, and at times will stop on Swap. In this event the player must put up for swap one of the cards in his hand, face-down on the proper spot on board 12, there being four such spaces 122, one on each extreme corner of the board. All the other players in the game then have a chance to swap one of their cards for the players card, the player on the left having the first choice, the one to his left next, and so on around the board.

Immediately after taking any card off the board, a player must put it through the appraiser or indicating device to see whether or not it is genuine. If it is genuine the player keeps it on the table beside him, but does not use it again in the game. If it is a fake, it is placed in the discard pile, and is out of the game. The game continues until all the cards are removed from the board, or until no one wants any of the cards that are left.

If a player runs out of cards he may continue to buy so long as he has money, but if both his money and his cards run out he is out of the game, and must wait until the other players have finished. If he runs out of money but still has cards, he may continue, but must confine his play to swapping.

When the game is over all the players must run any cards which they still hold through the appraiser to see if they are genuine. Only genuine cards are retained, and the scores are determined by adding up the prices, as shown on the cards, of all the articles held by each of the players, together with the amount of money still held. The value of the cards plus the amount of money remaining is the players score, and the player with the highest score wins.

Although shown and described in connection with particular apparatus, it will be apparent that certain modifications might be made without departing from the principles of the invention. It is also to be understood that the exact manner of playing the game with the [disclosed apparatus is illustrative only, and that various other forms of play might be devised.

What is claimed is:

1. Game apparatus comprising a housing including a slotted opening in the upper wall thereof, detecting means pivotally mounted within said housing below the slotted opening therein, said detecting means including portions disposed in spaced apart relation and on opposite sides of its pivot axis, an indicating scale on said hOllsing, an indicating pointer pivotally supported on said housing for movement across said scale in response to pivotal movement of said pivotally mounted detecting means, and a plurality of cards arranged in pairs and illustrating different articles, the two cards of each pair illustrating the same article, said cards being individually insertable in said slotted opening and each having notched portions along the lower edge thereof the notches on each matching pair of cards being arranged to engage different ones of said detecting means portions whereby the two cards move the pointer in opposite directions when separately inserted into said housing.

2. Game apparatus comprising a housing includin a slot ed pening in the upper wall thereof, detecting means pivotally mounted within said housing in alignment with and below the slotted opening therein, said pivotally mounted means including a pair of tab portions disposed in spaced apart relation and on opposite sides of the pivot axis, an indicating scale on said housing, an indicating pointer pivotally supported in said housing for movement across said scale in response to pivotal movement of said pivotally mounted detecting means, and a plurality of cards arranged in pairs and illustrating different articles, the two cards of each pair illustrating the same article, said cards being individually insertable in said slotted opening and each having notched portions along the lower edge thereof, the notches on each matching pair of cards being arranged to engage different ones of said detecting means portions whereby the two cards move the pointer in opposite directions when separately inserted into said housing.

3. Game apparatus comprising a housing including a slotted opening in the upper wall thereof, detecting means pivotally mounted within said housing in alignment with and below the slotted opening therein, said pivotally mounted means including a pair of tab portions disposed in spaced apart relation and on opposite sides of its pivot axis, spring means in said housing biasing said pivotally mounted means into a position where said tab portions are generally aligned horizontally, an indicating scale in the upper portion of said housing and visible through an opening in the forward wall thereof, an indicating pointer pivotally supported in said housing for movement across said scale in response to pivotal movement of said pivotally mounted detecting means, a plurality of cards arranged in pairs and illustrating different articles, the two cards of each pair illustrating the same article, said cards being individually insertable in said slotted opening and each having notched portions along the lower edge thereof, the notches on each matching pair of cards being arranged to engage different ones of said detecting means portions whereby the two cards move the pointer in opposite directions when separately inserted into said housing.

4. A game comprising a game board including defined areas thereon and a plurality of stations defining a path of movement for playing pieces past said defined areas, a plurality of playing cards illustrating different articles and arranged in pairs each illustrating an identical article, each of said cards having an edge portion thereof which is irregular in form with each two cards comprising one of said pairs having different irregularities, each of said defined areas being of such extent, in the direction of said path, as to receive one of said cards between its lateral edges, and an indicating device comprising a housing having a slotted opening in the upper wall adapted to receive each of said cards, a detecting means pivotally mounted in said housing below the slotted opening and including a pair of tab portions disposed on opposite sides of its pivot axis, said different irregularities being such as'to cause the two cards of a matched pair to engage different ones of said tab portions, an indicator connected with said detecting means and differently operable in response to engagement of the latter by said different irregularities.

5. A game comprising a game board including defined areas thereon and a plurality of stations defining a path of movement for playing pieces past said defined areas, a plurality of playing cards illustrating different articles and arranged in pairs each illustrating an identical article, each of said cards having an edge portion thereof which is notched with each two cards comprising one of said pairs having differently positioned notches, each of said defined areas being of such extent, in the direction of said path, as to receive one of said cards between its lateral edges, and an indicating device comprising a slotted receptacle adapted to receive each of said cards and including a pivotally movable detecting means forming the bottom of the slot, and an indicator connected with said detecting means and operable in response to engagement of the latter by the notched edge portion of a card, with the notch on the edge of one of each pair of cards causing a different action of the indicating device than the notch on the edge of the other card of said pair.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,458,966 1/1949 Waldrop 273-134 2,976,044 3/1961 Corpening 273-134 3,104,106 9/1963 Kenney et al. 273-134 3,127,176 3/1964 Ryan 273-139 3,305,967 2/1967 Weisbecker 273-139 X DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner. 

5. A GAME COMPRISING A GAME BOARD INCLUDING DEFINED AREAS THEREON AND A PLURALITY OF STATIONS DEFINING A PATH OF MOVEMENT FOR PLAYING PIECES PAST SAID DEFINED AREAS, A PLURALITY OF PLAYING CARDS ILLUSTRATING DIFFERENT ARTICLES AND ARRANGED IN PAIRS EACH ILLUSTRATING AN IDENTICAL ARTICLE, EACH OF SAID CARDS HAVING AN EDGE PORTION THEREOF WHICH IS NOTCHED WITH EACH TWO CARDS COMPRISING ONE OF SAID PAIRS HAVING DIFFERENTLY POSITIONED NOTCHES, EACH OF SAID DEFINED AREAS BEING OF SUCH EXTENT, IN THE DIRECTION OF SAID PATH, AS TO RECEIVE ONE OF SAID CARDS BETWEEN ITS LATERAL EDGES, AND AN INDICATING DEVICE COMPRISING A SLOTTED RECEPTACLE ADAPTED TO RECEIVE EACH OF SAID CARDS AND INCLUDING A PIVOTALLY MOVABLE DETECTING MEANS FORMING THE BOTTOM OF THE SLOT, AND AN INDICATOR CONNECTED WITH SAID DETECTING MEANS AND OPERABLE IN RESPONSE TO ENGAGEMENT OF THE LATTER BY THE NOTCHED EDGE PORTION OF A CARD, WITH THE NOTCH ON THE EDGE OF ONE OF EACH PAIR OF CARDS CAUSING A DIFFERENT ACTION OF THE INDICATING DEVICE THAN THE NOTCH ON THE EDGE OF THE OTHER CARD OF SAID PAIR. 